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Post by wendifful on Nov 11, 2021 23:07:51 GMT
I bought a new ream of white cardstock for card bases and thought I'd try getting it cut at my local Staples, since I've seen Jennifer McGuire mention doing this in her videos. Before going, I decided to call and see what the cost would be.
Conversation:
Me: Hi, I wondered if you offer a service where you can cut large quantities of paper at once and how much it costs?
Staples employee: Yes we do, how many sheets were you wanting to get cut?
Me: About 200.
Staples employee: 200?!?
Me: Yes.
Staples employee: Okay. What kind of paper is it?
Me: 100lb cardstock.
Staples employee: 100lb cardstock?!?
Anyway, once I gave her the info (I just wanted it cut in half), she quoted me $10 to do the cutting, which is far more than I expected it to be, but it was so odd that she sounded so shocked about the quantity of paper and the weight! I mean, this is a printing services department, surely they understand that different projects require different paper weights and I can't believe that 200 is a super large amount, compared to businesses that might need the service to print/cut hundreds or thousands of flyers.
Have you ever gotten bulk cardstock cut at an office supply store? Was the employee shocked by your request? (Also, $10 is kind of outrageous, isn't it?)
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azcrafty
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,955
Jun 28, 2019 20:24:21 GMT
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Post by azcrafty on Nov 12, 2021 3:37:38 GMT
I had my cut at FedEx/kinkos.
It was $1.40/cut. I had them cut a 110lb Michael's 100 sheet package. The guy kept the plastic wrapper around it. 1 package it was cut perfectly the 2nd it was a little bit off, so just make sure that they measure it right. I did this 2 years ago not sure what it is now.
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Post by joblackford on Nov 12, 2021 4:23:52 GMT
I tried to get mine done at Staples and was not impressed. They quoted me a price that was way higher than I had been led to expect and the cuts weren't great. It was a while back. I decided not to bother in the future and cut it myself sheet by sheet at home. I can't remember the price that Staples told me but I'm pretty sure it was more than $10. They ended up charging me less than they quoted me but it didn't seem like the guy knew what he was doing.
The library I used to work at had a cutting machine that could've done it in a jiffy but I never managed to figure out how to use it. I should've gotten one of the PR/graphics people to show me, but since it was for personal use I didn't think I should waste their time.
Kristie Marcotte buys boxes of cardstock reams and has them cut, maybe at a professional printing service. I don't think they'd be surprised (unless they found out it was for handmade cards). Staples shouldn't be surprised but I suspect their staff are very young and under-trained.
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Post by grammadee on Nov 12, 2021 4:33:42 GMT
wendifful, as someone who doesn't really "get" how they determine the lb wt of papers, I am imagining that poor employee thinking you were asking them to cut one hundred pounds of paper 200 times! No wonder they were a little hesitant!
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FurryP
Drama Llama
To pea or not to pea...
Posts: 7,284
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 19:58:26 GMT
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Post by FurryP on Nov 12, 2021 16:02:37 GMT
Well good to know some of these chain office supply stores aren't necessarily going to do a good job. Seems very sloppy for something that should not be an unusual job for them.
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Post by freeatlast on Nov 12, 2021 20:46:25 GMT
I use Fed Ex/Kinkos, too, and IIRC the last time it was $1.40 a cut. I generally take at least 3 reams of Michael's 100 lb cardstock in at a time (so at least 300 sheets).
From my experience, the issue with the cuts may have something to do with the paper itself. It seems sometimes Michael's cardstock is not "exactly" 8-1/2 by 11. If it's off, even by a 1/16 of an inch, you can get half of the ream cut correctly and the other half the leftover (a bit to small or too big). I always mean to measure before taking them in to be cut but haven't done it yet.
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Post by katiekaty on Nov 12, 2021 22:48:02 GMT
I buy 12x24 size black 110 lb weight card stock from Staples in 144 sheet amounts and they have always cut it to 12x12 for free for me. For the last 18 years. My guess is the employee didn’t know what you wanted or understood weights of card stock and the high fee may be because you are bringing in from outside?
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Post by wendifful on Nov 12, 2021 22:53:53 GMT
wendifful , as someone who doesn't really "get" how they determine the lb wt of papers, I am imagining that poor employee thinking you were asking them to cut one hundred pounds of paper 200 times! No wonder they were a little hesitant! Lol, I didn't think of that possibility! |
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Post by wendifful on Nov 12, 2021 22:54:57 GMT
I use Fed Ex/Kinkos, too, and IIRC the last time it was $1.40 a cut. I generally take at least 3 reams of Michael's 100 lb cardstock in at a time (so at least 300 sheets). From my experience, the issue with the cuts may have something to do with the paper itself. It seems sometimes Michael's cardstock is not "exactly" 8-1/2 by 11. If it's off, even by a 1/16 of an inch, you can get half of the ream cut correctly and the other half the leftover (a bit to small or too big). I always mean to measure before taking them in to be cut but haven't done it yet. Can I ask if they cut each ream separately or all together? I'm just curious what the capacity of their big cutter is. Maybe I'll try FedEx/Kinko's instead. |
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Post by freeatlast on Nov 13, 2021 0:57:24 GMT
I use Fed Ex/Kinkos, too, and IIRC the last time it was $1.40 a cut. I generally take at least 3 reams of Michael's 100 lb cardstock in at a time (so at least 300 sheets). From my experience, the issue with the cuts may have something to do with the paper itself. It seems sometimes Michael's cardstock is not "exactly" 8-1/2 by 11. If it's off, even by a 1/16 of an inch, you can get half of the ream cut correctly and the other half the leftover (a bit to small or too big). I always mean to measure before taking them in to be cut but haven't done it yet. Can I ask if they cut each ream separately or all together? I'm just curious what the capacity of their big cutter is. Maybe I'll try FedEx/Kinko's instead. At mine, they cut each ream separately. So 3 reams, 3 cuts. I get 2 reams cut for top fold cards, 1 for side fold. |
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Post by marg on Nov 14, 2021 2:40:54 GMT
I brought in a ream of Neenah to have Staples cut into quarters. I copied Jennifer McGuire and drew the lines on the top piece of paper, exactly into quarters. They did a terrible job cutting it - it was uneven and off-centre. I can't remember the price, I just know I won't bother having them do it again.
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clio
Full Member
Posts: 117
Dec 3, 2017 13:07:05 GMT
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Post by clio on Nov 14, 2021 14:10:45 GMT
I had 100 lb Neenah Desert Storm cut recently at FedEx/Kinkos for card bases. It’s ever so slightly off-doubt anyone will notice, but worth saving my shoulder. Cost $7
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Post by pmm on Nov 14, 2021 18:03:57 GMT
I learned my lesson, and I never use Staples, Office Max or any other big box office supply store. All of these shops in my area use a laser cutter and it cuts at an angle, so the further down through the stack you get the more off the cuts of paper. The only place I take it is to FedEx/Kinkos.
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Post by wendifful on Nov 14, 2021 19:50:18 GMT
I learned my lesson, and I never use Staples, Office Max or any other big box office supply store. All of these shops in my area use a laser cutter and it cuts at an angle, so the further down through the stack you get the more off the cuts of paper. The only place I take it is to FedEx/Kinkos. Interesting! I didn't even know that there was such a thing for large stacks of paper, I just assumed it was a manual blade. Thanks for sharing. Sounds like the general consensus is that FedEx/Kinko's is the best choice. |
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garcia5050
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,773 
Location: So. Calif.
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Post by garcia5050 on Nov 18, 2021 14:53:56 GMT
Very interesting. In my department at work, we have an in-house print shop. The supervisor of that unit is a scrapbooker, so I’m sure she’ll let one of the team members do a cut or two for me. It never dawned on me to do this until reading this thread. Thanks everyone!!
And I have seen the cutting machine. It looks like it can cut through 3 reams at a time. And it holds the paper super tight, so it doesn’t move. When we go back to the office (sometime after January), I’ll give it a try.
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craftgranny
Full Member
Posts: 174
Jul 30, 2020 11:56:27 GMT
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Post by craftgranny on Nov 19, 2021 13:07:16 GMT
@wendiiful Definitely go to Fedex Kinkos! I brought 3 reams of paper Neenah 110 Solar Crest and they cut them for A2 and A7 size. I asked for the scraps back because I use them for a variety small die cuts and stamps. It was like 1.30 per cut. It cost about 3.00 total. So much easier to have the paper precut and ready for scoring.
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